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DACOWITS Selects 1997 Executive Committee Members

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1996  Judith Youngman, 1997 chairwoman of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, announced the selection of the 1997 DACOWITS executive committee. The selections are effective Jan. 1, 1997.

Youngman, as chair of DACOWITS, also chairs the executive committee. She is from New London, Conn. Sheila McNeill of St. Mary's, Ga., becomes the DACOWITS executive committee vice chair.

Former South Dakota state representative Carol Maicki from Black Hawk, S.D., chairs the equality management subcommittee, while Ginger Simpson of Apopka, Fla., serves as vice chair.

Sue Guenter-Schlesinger of Logan, Utah, chairs the quality of life subcommittee; vice chair is Sue Straughn of Pensacola, Fla.

Jill Docking from Wichita, Kan., chairs the subcommittee for forces development and utilization; Liz Alexander of Tucson, Ariz., is vice chair.

The executive committee performs a variety of duties during the semiannual conferences and during quarterly meetings. Duties include reviewing issues and interim issues, assigning new agenda items to appropriate subcommittees for introduction to the full committee, reviewing service responses to recommendations and approving recommendations.

The committee chair selects members of executive committee, with recommendations approved by Fred Pang, the assistant secretary of defense for force management policy.

Membership on DACOWITS includes prominent civilians from throughout the United States representing academia, industry, public service and other professions. The secretary of defense appoints members to three-year terms.

DACOWITS began in 1951-- started by Secretary of Defense George C. Marshall during the Korean War to assist DoD in recruitment and retention of service women. The committee provides advice to the defense secretary on policies relating to women in the services.